IAG Cargo will add Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to its network with four flights a week from London’s Heathrow Airport from 2 April 2019.

The Pittsburgh route, which will be the only direct flight from the UK to the city, will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with a cargo payload of up to 14 tonnes per flight.

Flights from Heathrow will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, bringing the total number of IAG Cargo operated US gateways to 26.

Pittsburgh’s export oriented industries include health services, manufacturing and technology are seeing growth rates of nearly double the rate of the city’s overall private sector growth in recent years.

IAG Cargo says it expects to carry pharmaceutical and machinery parts on the new route.

IAG Cargo director of sales, marketing and products, Camilo Garcia says: “Pittsburgh is home to thriving technology, robotics and healthcare industries and the new route will provide easy access to customers from the UK and beyond.

“This addition builds on our strong entry points into the US and will use the newest aircraft in our fleet, the Boeing 787-8. We’re proud to add Pittsburgh to our network of over 350 destinations globally.”